Accident Occurs Near Gausawa in Niger State River
Overloading and Underwater Obstacles Suspected as Causes
Many Missing Among Over 100 Passengers
Frequent River Transport in Nigeria Due to Poor Road Conditions Leads to Repeated Accidents
At least 60 people have died after a passenger boat capsized in the Niger River in central-northern Nigeria. Dozens have been rescued, but many remain missing.
According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) on September 4 (local time), the accident occurred around 11 a.m. on September 2 near Gausawa village in the Borgu area. The boat, which had departed from Tungansule village in the Malale area carrying over 100 people, capsized while heading to Duga village in the Kainji Reservoir.
NSEMA stated, "So far, 60 deaths have been confirmed, and the number may rise as search operations continue." Local media outlet Daily Trust identified overloading and a collision with an underwater tree stump as the causes of the accident.
In Nigeria, poor road conditions make river transport common, but boat accidents are frequent due to overloading, poor maintenance, and non-compliance with safety regulations. The risk of accidents is especially high during the rainy season from March to October.
On August 17, a boat carrying passengers to a market capsized in Sokoto State in the northwest, leaving more than 40 people missing. On July 26, at least 25 people died in another boat capsizing in the same Niger State.
According to local media outlet The Cable, 326 people died in boat accidents on Nigerian rivers last year alone.
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